Machine for manufacturing box blanks



N. A. www@ mAcmNE Foa MANUFACTURING sox sums.

APPLICATION HLEU JUNE 1T, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET n.

smi/WW@ wim Air-Weer 1,402,289. Patented. Jam 3, 1922.

5 wens-SHEET s.

@1km/Mug@ N. A. FOWLER.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BOX BLANKS.

` APPLlcAloN man JUNE 11. 191B.

15499289. Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

. 3M im? N. A.'FOWLER.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BOX BLANKS.

APPucATioN FILED JUNE1L`1918 1,402,289. Patented Jan. 3, 19122'.

NEIL A. FOWLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T WIREBOUNDS PATENTS COMIANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BOX BLANES.

Patented Jan. 3?, 119212.

Application led .Tune 17, 1918. Serial No. 240,424.

and 'a resident of Chicago, in the county of\a Cook and State of Illinois, has invented an Improvement in Machines for Manufacturing Box Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a machine capable of assembling' cleats, sheet material and binding wire into a foldable box blank, the sections of which are so related to each other that they may be folded up into an open-ended box to which may be secured, if desired, suitable closing ends.

' The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.v

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the machine from the friction-drive side.

Figure 2 is a Side elevation from the positive-drive side, the cleat-feeding chains beino' omitted.,A

iigure 3 is a plan of a positive-drive mechanism. i

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vdiagram of one section of the positive-drive mechanism.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on a plane just below the sxtaplin'g mechanism.

In the drawlngs, 10 indicates the main frame having -two. parallel cleat guides 11,'- 11, one of which is fixed and the other of which is laterallyl adjustable in the machine.

At the feed end of each of these guides is a shaft 12. which carries idler sprockets 13. There are eight of these sprockets for each guide, four onI each side, and running over these sprockets are four pairs of chains 14, 15, 16 and 17, which are connected in pairs by cross bars 14', 15, 16 -and 17 respectively.

At the delivery end of the machine, there are four shafts 19, 20, 21 and 22, each of which carries sixteen sprockets wheels 23 arranged in pairs to receive the chains 14,

16 and i7.

All of the sprocket wheels on each shaft are idlers except that twoappropriate pairs are fastened to each shaft so that shaft 19 has a positive connection with chains 14,

shaft 20 a positive connection with chains 15, shaft 21 a positive connection with of the four cross bars associated with each cleat guide l1.

The main drive shaft 24 is connected by sprocket chain 25 with a sprocket wheel 26 on a stud shaft 27, connection with the shaft 27 being established by means of a clutch 28 controlled by the foot pedal'29.

Shaft 27 carries a sprocket 30 which maybe readily exchanged for one of vdifferent size, and this sprocket, is connected by a chain 31 with a sprocket 32 which mayalso be readily changed in size. AAn idler 33 serves to take up the slack in the chain 31. Sprocket 32 is carried by a shaft 34 which carries a sprocket 35 which, by the changes in gears heretofore mentioned, may beA driven at any desired speed relative to the main shaft. Running over sprocket 35 is a chain 36 which also runs over a series of sprockets 37 (dotted lines Figure 1), one of which is mounted loosely upon each of the shafts 19, 20, 21 and 22 and connected to their appropriate shafts by friction clutches 38, so-that the shaft-s 19, 20, 21 and 22, if unobstructed by anything materially resisting the movement of cross bars 14', 15",4

16 and 17 will be forwarded by the friction drives.

" Stitches 40 (see Figurev 4) of any desired ,A on the drive shaft 24. The resistance offered by the binding wires and the stitching mechanism is sufficient to prevent the friction driving mechanism from advancing any of the box material through the machine past the stapling plane. Up to this point the mechanism and operation is well known and is disclosed in the specification and drawings of United States Letters Patent No. 1,140,297. The mechanism referred to for positively feeding. the box material step by step past the stapling plane, in vorder to receive the fastening staples, is not entirely satisfactory, and is not capable of adjustments of such character as to permit driving the staples 'at variable distances from each other. i

The object lof our present invention to provide a in eehanism, capable of adiustments such as `those mentioned, for positively advancing the box material past the stapling 5 plane steph step.

` n each s iatt 19, 20, 21 and 22 is a gear 50 which meshes with one of four gears 51, 52, 53, and 54, Which will, therefore, control chains 14, l5, 16 and 17, respectively. The lo four gears l, 52, '53, and 54 are journaled "upon a sleeve which carries an arm 55, and lthis sleeve' is journaled upon a fixed shaft 55 supported in suitable `brackets 56 (Figure 5). Secured to arm l55` is a casting having two sets of segmental rack teeth 57 and four pawls 58 one Aof which is shown in Figure 2. lOne of these pavvls is arranged alongside of each ot the gears 51, 52, 53, and 54. rllhe two segmental realisti? are engaged by seg- )f mental racks 59 carried by rock shaft 60 kwhich isl operated by means of an arm 61. rThe arm 61 is engaged by one end of a. pit- *.man 62 ywhich is pivoted to. its .other endy .upon the wrist pin 68, carried by one of the eceentrics 4h That end of pitman 62 which is connectedto arm 6l is provided with a .clamping bolt 63 which passes through a curved slot 6st in arm 6i, said slot being ',coneentric with wrist pin 63 when arm 6l 1,0 44is at the extreme of its movement toward the left, in Figures 2 and 4. By this` arrangement, pitman 52 may be adjusted relative lto arm 6l, so that the stroke of arm 6l may be increased or diminished, without varying 'the extizme ot' the forward movement of thev pawls 58, said extreme being always at the point indicated iny Figures 2 anda. l Each gear 5l, 52, 53 and 5d is provided ewith a circumferential slot 65, Figures 2 f and 4: so that each gear may carry any desii'ed number of adjustable ,teeth G6 circumferentially adjustable by clamping nuts 67. For convenience the rear tooth 66 of each gear isI arranged at the rear end of its slot G5, and each gear 5l, 52, 53 and 5ft is then so meshed with its appropriate gear 50 that the y' cross vbar of the chain controlled by that -`-",'gear 5() "will be the requireddistance from ffithe s'ta'pling plane whenever the rear tooth i llfhas been advanced by the adjacent pawl.

)8'1" rlfhe gears 51, 52, 53 and Si are so proiortioned relative to the gears 5() and the.

,"f"le1igths yof the cleat-advancing chai-ns, that otherA teeth 66 may then he properly ad justed by setting the cross har back to snccessivcly farther distances from the stapling plane, in a manner readily apparent. In order to provide thenecessary advancement 70 of the cross 'bar which drives the final cleat of each box blank, after the final cleat has passed the stapling plane, the gear controlling this cross bar will be provirLrl `vith one or more additional teeth 66.

Anoted that. if a cleat is of ysuch length that a variation in spacing of ythe `fastening staples is desired, v`this variation will be readily obtained by an appropriate spacing ot the teeth Gti, any advancement step, 'less than the maximum determined-hy the setting` of pitmen 62 relative to arm 61being obtainable at any pointin the series. Vlfhen a, variation frein the maximum is provided, it will be noted that thepaivl 58, for that particular step, will have a certain amour of play before engaging the tooth 66 which is adjusted at less thanl the maximum spacing. y

ln operation, the cross bars, as soon as they reach the shaft 19, are withdrawn from between the cleats of the forming blank and are thereupon quickly forwarded inv succession by lthe friction-driving means. By. the time the cross Vbar of this chain has reached the feed end of the machine, the operator will place a cleat infront of it and further forward movement of the crosschar will then be obstructed except as, it is ac-K, complished by the positive feed mechanism. l0@ rllhis positive feed mechanism comes'.into action successively on the successive chains.

, in the machine shown, gears 51, 52, and

54 are of such size that they make two come,A plete rotations for each cycle of the chains l05 but the pawl feed is only effective every other rotation be 'anse the intermediate rota- `tion is proluccd rapidly by the friction driving` means and the teeth Gti merely passat' high speed beneath the pawls. H0

flaring now fully described and ascertained ,my said invention and the. manner in which it is to be inerfmined` Il declare 4that what l claim isz- I l. A machine for use in making` boxes 'H5 comprising, in combination, a work support; mechanism to secure binding wire to box parts; and means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the,y box parts comprising, arcciprocating ,pawl` i2() a rotative element cooperating with said pawl and provided with a pluralityV of. in-

` dependent angul arly ,a dj estable teeth adapted to be engaged by thepawl: said machine being adapted to operate .withoutinterruption on materials for a -pluralityot' boxes.

'2; A machine for -use in making boxes comprising. in combination, a work support: mechanism yto secure binding wire to 'bore parts; vand means for causing relative pro- V13G 1,4oa,asa

. Igression between said mechanism and the box parts comprising, a reciprocating pawl, a rotative Yelement cooperating with said pawl' and provided with a plurality of independent angularly adjustable teeth adapted to be engaged bythe pawl and to vary the effective throw thereoff; Asaid machine being adapted to` operate without interruption on materials. for a..plu'rality, of boxes. 1'0'l 3. In a box b1 to receivel and-.pbsition the materials for a box blank, 'means to cause said work-holder to move 'forward intermittently, said means comprising'a'f reciprocating pawl, a rotative' element 'having connection with said work "holder cci-operating with said pa'wl and providedfwith a;l plurality of independent anguiar-1y adjustable teeth adapted to be en- '.gl'ag'i-.` ythe .pawl; said machine being out interruption on materials for a plurality 4f-of boxes. v 1 y 5. In a box blank machine a work-ho'lder `'to receive and position the materials for a box blank,-'stapling mechanism to secure'sai'd materials together, yielding driving means for forwarding said work-holder and positive' forwarding means for moving said work-holder intermittently, forwarding means comprisingan independent rotativeelement, a reciprocating pawl co-operating with said stapling mechanism, a plurality of angularly adjustable teeth carried by said rotative element in position to be engaged by said pawl, and means for varying the throw of the pawl without altering the extreme of its forward movement. 6;' In a box blank machine, a work-holder comprising a plurality of sets of endless chains, one set for each section of a box blank, yielding driving means for forward- ,in said chains and a plurality of positive drivingmeans for forwarding said chains step by step, said positive driving'means being independent of each other and capable 'ofindividual adjustment. a

'7. A box blank machine comprising a plurality of .sets of feed chains, .one set for each .j section of a box blank, yielding driving means for forwarding said chains and positive forwarding mechanisms for said chains, each of .said' positive forwarding mechanisms comprising a rotative element con- ..nected'to one set of the chains, a reciprocat- "fing paWl, and a plurality of angularly admachine a work-holder' vto operate without interrupt-ion on ,mechanisms comprising a rotative element said positivejustab-le teeth carried by said rotative ele- .ment in'poston to be engaged by said pawl,

,8. yA bei: blank. comprising staplling mechamsm, a plurality offsets of feed chains, one s et for each section of the box blank,- yieldlng driving means for forwarding said chains and positiveforwarding mechanisms for saidv chains, Aeach of Said positive 'forwarding mechanisms comprising an independent r'otative element4 controlling one set of. the chains, a reciprocating pawl co-operatlng with the stapling mechanism, a plurallty ,of angularly adjustable teeth carried by said .rotative element in position t-o-be engaged by saidpawl and means for vary- 1ng the throw ofthe pawl without altering .the extreme of'its forward movement.

9. In a boxI blank machine, stapling mechanism, aplurality ,of sets of feed chains, one set for each section-of the 'box blank, yielding driving means for forwardlng said. chains and rpositive forwarding mechanism 'for (advancing said chains step by vstep, each of rsaid Apiniitive forwarding 9o connected to one set'of the chains, a. reciprocating pawl actuated by a pitman, the inner end of which is; connected to.one of the eccentrics driving the stapling mechanism, means for adjusting the outer end o-f the pitmanto'vary the throw ofthe pawl,

and a lplurality of angularly adjustable teeth carried by said rotative element in position to be engaged by said pawl.

l0. Ai box blank machine comprising stapling mechanism,A a plurality of sets of feed chains, one Slet for each section of the box blank, yielding driving means for forwarding said chains and positive forwarding mechanisms for advancing said chains step by step, each of said positive forwarding mechanisms comprising an independent rotative element adapted to drive one set of the chains,a reciprocating pawl. a pitman connected to an eccentric'driving the stapling mechanism, the vouter end of said pitman engaging a slotted arm whereby the throw of the pawl may be varied by adjusting the end of the pitman in theslot, and a plurality of teeth angularly adjustable in a circumferential slot of. the rotative element to beengaged by said pawl for the purpose set forth.

ll. A machine for usein making boxes comprising, in combination, a work support; .stapling mechanism; anda driving vmechanism to cause; relative progression bepavvls bythe motion of an eccentric which` teeth of one of said series of adjustable teeth; and means for reciprocating said .drives the. stapling mechanism.

ytive progression between said staplingg' 12, A machine for use in making boxes comprising a `work support; stapling mecha.- msm and drivingl mechanism to ,cause relam'echanism and the vvork comprising. a driving arm; segmental racks carried by the outer end thereof; a rocking' shaft, toothed dri-ving arm to. act successively on said adj ustable teeth and Vimpart intermittent movementto said-rotatable element.

.13. A. machine for use. in naking wirtbound boxes comprising ivorlr-forvvarding means fastener-setting' mechanism; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism andthe. work, comprising ayielding'l driving means and a positive drivingineans, said positive driving means comprising` a series of selectively-spaced;

adjustablemembers having connection with the Work-foro'arding means. and afreciproeating vactuator adapted to propulsively engage each of said members in turn.

14. A machine fc use in making Wirelbound boxescomprising, in combination,

ivOrk-forwarding means; fastener-setting mechanism; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the vvork, including means to yieldingljY cadvance A said work-forwarding means during;T a pori 4 advance said Work-forwarding means dur-.

tion of, its travel; and means to positively ing another portion of its travel in stepsof A controlled lengthto locate fasteners at se- Dl l lectedlpoints in the Work; said positive driving means comprising a pattern of selec-- tively-spaced members having nonnection with the work-forwarding means and a mo- 'tion-imparting Idevice.adapted to propulsively engagesucccssivelv the' members of said pattern to advance' the Work-forwardingnieans distances corresponding relatively7 to said pattern.

' 151 machineu for use in making Wirebound boxes comprising, in combination7 "endless Work-formartl-ing means; fastenersetting mechanism: means to yieldinlrly ad- -vaii'celsaid Aivorh-forwarding means; and

*means to positively advance said Work-foi vva r'ding' means in steps of controlled length to locate la succession of fasteners in a unit lof work at variable; selected points.

16. .si machine for use in making Wire- :naoaaee bound bones comprisinq, in combination;

endless worlr-forwardingmeans; fastenersetting mechanism; means to yieldingly members having' connection with the vvorlc.

forwarding means, and va 'motion-imparting device adapted to propnlsively engage each meinberlin turn.\ f- A a Y 18. A machine for use in making boxes comprising;E in combination, Worllforivarding means; fastener-settingmechanism; and feeding "means comprising a yielding' driving means 'and a positivedriving 'meanasaid positive driving means `comprising lseries of adjustable members lniving connection with the Work-forwarding means, and a mo-7 tion-imparting device vadapted to 'engage said members successively. d

1.9. A machine for use in making` boxes comprising, in combination', work-forwarding means; `ffastener-setting` mechanism; and Work-feeding means including yielding driving means and a'positive-driving means, said positive driving means-comprising adjustable controlling members having connection With the Workforwarding fineans; anda motion-imparting' device adapted to propulsivelv engage said controlling inembers successively to advance the Work variable distances intermittently.

20. A machine for use yiii-making: boxes comprising.- in combinationy.v :work-forwarding means fastener-setting maehani n and work-feedingmeans` comprising a n lding drivingmeans and a regulable positive driving` means, said positive drivingmeans comprising-a series of selectively-spaced devices having connection. with. the Work-forwarding; means.- and an actuator yathipted to propulsivelv engage said devices in turn to advance the work variable distances corresponding to the spaces between said devices.

2l. A machine for use in 'making V'boites comprising; in combination; work-forwarding'. means; fastener-setting mechanism; and means to causek relative `progression' therebetween. including a yielding4 driving: means and a pcsitive driving meansadapted to control said relative progression to locate fasteners at desired points on the 'Worlzis said 'iti ` comprisin Lacasse mechanism; a conveyer for box parts; means .y to yieldingly feed said conveyor; and means to feed said conveyer in steps of controlled length to present selected fastener-receiving points on the work to said mechanism, comprising a reciprocating actuator adapted during variable fractions of its throw. to propulsively engage successively 'a series of members having connection with the conveyer.

23. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, work-forwarding means; fastener-setting mechanism; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work, including aA yielding driving means and a positive driving means, said positive driving means being adapted to control the progression to locate fasteners at selected points on the work, and comprising an adjustable pattern of feed members for a unit of work havin a fixed ratio of movement with the workorwarding means, and a `motion-impartingdevice adapted to engage said members successively and advance .the work variable distances corresponding relatively to said pattern.

24. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, Workforwarding means; fastener-setting mechanism; and

means tocause relative progression between said mechanism and the work, including a yielding driving means and .a positive driving means, said positive driving means being adapted to control the progression to locate fasteners at selected points 'onthe work, and an adjustable pattern of feed members or a unit of work having a fixed ratio of movement with the work-forwarding means, and a motion-imparting device adapted to 'engage said members successively and advance the work variable distances corresponding relatively to said pattern, said feedin means being constructed and arrange to present a successionof units of work to the fastener-setting mechanism and locate fastenersvin leach unit Aaccording to said pattern.

25. A machine for use in making boxes comprising,- in combination, endless workforwarding means; fastener-setting mecha` nism; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the Work in steps of controlled length, comprisin a ratchet wheel having adjustable teeth se ectively spaced thereon andfza reciprocating actuator adapted to propulsively engage saidl teeth successively.

26. A machine for use .in making boxes ycompi'ising,` in combination, endless workforwarding means; fastener-setting mecha' nisin; and means to cause relative progresin steps of controlled length, comprising a ratchet wheel having adjustable teeth spaced apart variable distances corresponding relatively to the desired length of eed steps, and a reciprocating actuator adapted to propulsively engage said teeth successivelyand advance each tooth in turn a distance equal to the distance between the engaged tooth and its predecessor.

27.*A machine for use in making boxes lsion between said mechanism and the Work comprising, in` combination, work-forwaijding means; binding-wire-applying mechamsm; means to yieldingly advanceA said Work-forwarding means; and means to positively advance said work-forwarding means in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners at selected work assemblies.

28. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, work-forwarding means; binding-wireapplying mechanisin; means `o yieldingly advance said work-forwardng means; and means to positively advance said work-forwarding means in steps ofv controlled length .to locate fasteners relative to edges of a* succession of Work assemblies.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

NEIL A. FOM/'LER 

